NEWS
Putin gives annual address
![Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual press conference in Moscow.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/29056a1057ef4dcdc0f351d84066d0edb558d1d3/c=0-85-4539-2649/local/-/media/2014/12/18/USATODAY/USATODAY/635544747646460263-AFP-536258315.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual press conference in Moscow.
Alexander Nemenov, AFP/Getty Images![Putin faces his biggest challenge yet: how to manage the worst monetary crisis of his era.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/7ce68bc690dff8d4c9f3ea1ce84fd07202537edc/c=0-9-4560-2585/local/-/media/2014/12/18/USATODAY/USATODAY/635544748874210263-AFP-536258399.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Putin faces his biggest challenge yet: how to manage the worst monetary crisis of his era.
Alexander Nemenov, AFP/Getty Images![People walk past a huge Christmas tree in Red Square, Moscow.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/95c19e5d5e70ca539e13823b209488dbecd7ec78/c=0-88-3883-2282/local/-/media/2014/12/18/USATODAY/USATODAY/635544750168210263-AP-Russia-Poll-On-Russian-Attitudes.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
People walk past a huge Christmas tree in Red Square, Moscow.
Misha Japaridze, AP![A police officer guards the entrance to the head office of the Central Bank in Moscow.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/90cab2ba850d37a845c22ee221e4274e01c3ae26/c=0-144-4884-2903/local/-/media/2014/12/18/USATODAY/USATODAY/635544753703610263-AFP-536237837.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A police officer guards the entrance to the head office of the Central Bank in Moscow.
Yuri Kadobnov, AFP/Getty Images![A woman walks under a board listing foreign currency rates against the ruble in central Moscow on Dec. 17.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/eb50f12d87884c82f575efd099787cee2a9c69fa/c=0-178-3892-2377/local/-/media/2014/12/18/USATODAY/USATODAY/635544752152410263-AFP-536238333.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A woman walks under a board listing foreign currency rates against the ruble in central Moscow on Dec. 17.
Yuri Kadobnov, AFP/Getty Images![Small sculptures of Putin are displayed for sale in a street souvenir shop in Saint Petersburg.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/3653536c0190e6759e27686cca83f987785e140e/c=0-50-3943-2277/local/-/media/2014/12/18/USATODAY/USATODAY/635544751317510263-AP-Russia-Daily-Life.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Small sculptures of Putin are displayed for sale in a street souvenir shop in Saint Petersburg.
Dmitry Lovetsky, APFeatured Weekly Ad